The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has issued a restraining order stopping the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) from releasing the final merit list for the Medical and Dental College Admission Test (MDCAT).
The decision came after a group of students filed petitions, raising concerns over alleged errors in the test.
Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir, who presided over the case, issued the restraining order on Thursday, responding to the students' claims that 30 out of the 200 questions in the test were incorrect. The petitioners argued that admissions to medical colleges will be based on these results of MDCAT.
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The students also sought the medical colleges be restrained from further extension of the admission process.
As a result, the court has temporarily barred the PMDC from proceeding with the release of the merit list until the matter is resolved. Justice Tahir also issued notices to all relevant parties, including the PMDC, calling for their responses by October 28.
A day ago, the Sindh High Court had ordered a halt to the publication of the merit list for admissions to medical colleges following allegations of irregularities in the MDCAT test.
The court issued a clear directive that no institution should proceed with the admissions process until the matter is fully investigated.
During the hearing of a case of irregularities in MDCAT for medical admissions, the court approved a proposal from the Sindh health secretary and the chief secretary to form a committee that will investigate the allegations. The committee has been tasked with completing its investigation within 15 days and will have the authority to assess both criminal and civil liabilities associated with the alleged irregularities.